Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Read 'n' Seed 3: Second Quarter of "Man vs. Wild"


  1. In the second quarter of the book I read the next 64 pages which was pages 65-129.
  2. Some of the main topics in the second quarter were: Surviving The Mountains in the Summer and Surviving Sub-Zero Terrain.
  3. Once again I've learned a ton of vital, essential, and interesting information on surviving a variety of vast/unforgiving terrain. "A positive mental attitude is a vital ingredient in any survival situation"-Bear Grylls. Surviving the Mountains:
  • Rule 1: Think First-Act later: Preserving your energy in the mountains is half the battle. Consider all your options, then act decisively. If you fail to have a plan, you plan to fail. So make a plan and stick to it. Whatever your situation, finding a drinkable water source and adequate shelter should be very high on your list of priorities. Drinking contaminated water is even worse than drinking no water at all. In general, the farther water is from its source, the more likely it is to be contaminated.
  • Rule 2: Shelter from the Storm: Mountain terrain can be very exposed to the elements, but at the same time a good shelter is perhaps easier to build and find than in any other wilderness terrain. Natural caves and crevasse's  provide for good shelter against the elements. Use the abundance of nature around you. She has given you all you need.
  • Rule 3: Use Height Effectively: Always use height to survey and orientate yourself to the surrounding terrain before you descend. Make a mental map. It will pay dividends later.
  • Rule 4: Watch the Weather: Weather changes quickly and dramatically in the mountains. Always keep an eye on the sky. This following saying is one that I was taught at a young age from my parents. Red sky at night sailors delight and red sky at morn sailors take warn. Use good weather to your advantage, but prepare early if things look likely to change. Tune in your instinct to bad weather; learn from the animals.
  • Rule 5: River Lore: Rivers are often a route to salvation, but they can also be very dangerous. Don't get wet and cold unless there is no other option. But learn to use the river and live off it. Follow it downstream-it will eventually take you to safety.
  • Surviving Sub-Zero Terrain:
  • Rule 1: Stay Warm and Dry: Hypothermia is the number-one killer in sub-zero terrain. It won't be the normal outside temperature that kills you, however, but the amplifying effects of the wind and the wet, so protect yourself from the wind and stay dry. Treat your limbs, head, and extremities like children-watch out and look after them!
  • Rule 2: Build a Snow Shelter: Use the environment to shelter yourself. Snow should become your greatest friend, not your worst enemy. The most basic snow shelters are quick and easy to make. Remember, snow is one of nature's best insulators. Bears hibernate in it, so it can't be all bad!
  • Rule 3: Make a Snow Stick: Some sort of support, protection, and prodding device is a vital accessory in snowy and icy terrain. It will stop you falling through thin ice, into a crevasse, or down a mountain, and help you move through the mountains with greater speed and ease. Move as early in the day as possible, before the sun warms potential avalanche slopes and crevasse coverings. Ice needs to be at least 2 inches thick before you should even consider walking on it.
  • Rule 4: Make some Snowshoes: You must spread your weight when moving over deep snow. Snowshoes can be made from any number of tough, flexible materials and strapped to the bottom of your feet. They are easier to make than you might think
  • Rule 5: Never Stop Believing: Cold itself will slow the mental processes required to make effective decisions regarding direction. Survival is about thinking smart not just sweating hard. Keeping warm is a battle of will, a resolution to keep limbs and extremities moving and working, resisting the temptation to give up and allow them to go numb. Frostbite occurs when, in order to protect core heat, the body reduces the supply of blood to the extremities. The temptation to curl up and give up must be resisted at all costs. Surviving in the extreme cold takes constant determination. But, deep down, you have what it takes. Remember that when you were conceived you won a race out of 500 million competitors, fighting a battle uphill and in the dark. You have always been a champion at heart. Believe, and you will survive!
     4. What I would continue for people to take away from this reading is that they do have the capabilities, heart, and determination to survive any unfortunate situation in the wilderness. It's not out of the question or impossible to survive various and vast terrains and by following some of these important tips I hope people don't get discouraged if they do in fact become lost in the wilderness. Everyone has the ability to survive in any situation it just depends if they have the heart and right frame of mind to do so. If you say and tell yourself that I can then you can but if you say I can't do this than the battle is lost.


2 comments:

  1. This is a great book for hikers, explorers, and campers to read to be prepared for unexpected situations. I never knew that following a river down will usually bring you to safety or why hikers in the snow usually use a cane or a stick when walking. The things you would need to do to survive conditions like this would take a lot of determination and courage. I feel the hardest part of being in a situation like this would be to keep your mind going instead of just giving up.

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  2. Matt this is a great book. It fits in well with many of us from northern MN that like to camp and explore the outdoors. It provides us with a lot of useful and life saving information. There are two points that stick out that I really like. The first being think first act later. That is very important because you don't want to make impulse choices. Also the last one Never Stop Believing I think that this is important in any situation in life. Great Post

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